School Lessons in the Culinary Arts
Part 3: Popular Girl Platter
by Cromm Cruich
with editorial work by MagicianX
Impaled and helpless at Gloria and Brett's workstation, Mandy was in the final stages of her preparation. She lay exhausted, spent, and emotionally drained, her consciousness flickering in and out of focus, and as she rested on the counter where she had been spitted, she saw Glora slide an adjustable crossbar onto the end of the spit that extended from between her lips. Mandy was s

A Starship Stowaway's Culinary Contribution
by Cromm Cruich
"We have a problem," Zoologist Hansen said grimly.
The senior crew of the starship Earth's Hope was gathered in the conference room, a little worse for wear from their time on the rugged alien planet, but pleased at their mission's success. Captain McColloch had been staring out the window as the ship fell silently through the void of space on its way home, but he turned, frowning, when he heard the zoologist's words. Upon noting Hans

Doing Well
by Cromm Cruich
The late Sunday morning sun found Sophie Murray in her bed, despite many previous attempts to block off the offending cracks in the window blinds. Her clock radio was conveniently placed in easy viewing range of her bed, but the advanced hour displayed on its face did nothing to fight off her clinging sleepiness. Nevertheless, as tired as she still was, she knew she wouldn't be sleeping any longer this morning. As she regretfully knew from experience, consciousness

School Lessons in the Culinary Arts
Part 1: Spit-Roasted Students
By Cromm Cruich
Gloria McKenzie had come to the conclusion that she'd made a terrible mistake.
"I don't remember this part in the course description," she whispered to her friend, sliding her phone over to show her. They were seated in the food prep classroom, waiting for the first Culinary Arts class of the semester to begin. It was a large room, fitted with many kitchen workstations, whose countertops doubled as table space fo

Amanda Gets Cooked





Amanda had just turned 19 and gone through a bad breakup. She wasn't sure how she would have coped if it hadn't been for her best friend Samantha.

Sam had taken her out to all the best restaurants, she was training to become a chef so she was able to get discounts at all the best places.

Amanda enjoyed the food but mostly the company although

Gabby was at her Aunt Shelly's house for the weekend. She had been there all day, and it felt like she'd never leave. Her aunt had made her stay inside because of the weather—the sky was gray with clouds that looked ready to burst open at any second. She was sitting in the living room when her phone rang. It was Aunt Shelly.
"Hey, Gabby," said Aunt Shelly on the other end of the line. "I just wanted you to know I'm going to be late tonight"
"Oh...okay?"
Shelly lau

Lila woke up on a strange island...
She sat bolt upright, her heart pounding. She was in the middle of an ocean and she could see nothing but water all around her. The sun had risen to reveal a beautiful blue sky with wispy white clouds drifting by. Was this a dream? How did she get here?
"Hello!" a voice cried from behind her. Lila turned around and saw a pig in clothes walking upright toward her across the sand. "Are you lost?" he asked.
"Um... yeah. I'm sorry, am I dr

Lindsey had a pretty face, with long brown hair that she kept in a ponytail. Her eyes were blue and her skin was pale; it seemed to glow under the right lighting.
She sat in the back seat of the car, not sure where her mother was taking her. Lindsey had not been a very well behaved girl. Rather, she was a brat. She always got into trouble at school – fighting, bullying other kids, breaking rules, you name it. At home, too, she acted out. She would throw tantrums when things didn't go her way

I have been taken by the Goblins. They are monsters who live in caves beneath our land. They are evil creatures who eat us for their supper.
Tonight they plan to boil me alive in a cauldron. It is my first night as prisoner in Goblin Town, but it will also be my last.
My village had made a deal with the Goblins. They would give them a sacrifice of three girls and in exchange the Goblins would leave the herds alone. I was one of those girls.
My family was eager to let me go. When we found out ab